North Carolina Added $31 Million to Film Grant Program

The state funding boost will prioritize productions in the southeastern region, including New Hanover County.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Financial Aid

Screen-print poster illustration featuring a vintage film camera overlooking a coastal marshland, evocative of North Carolina's film industry support. — The North Carolina General Assembly has approved $31 million for the state's Film and Entertainment Grant Program, reopening funding for productions with a priority on southeastern projects. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should the state prioritize economic development grants for specific regions rather than distributing them statewide?

The North Carolina General Assembly has authorized an additional $31 million for the state's Film and Entertainment Grant Program. This move follows a temporary freeze on new grantmaking caused by exhausted funds.

Why it matters

The funding injection restores the state's ability to offer tax rebates for film and television productions, which is critical for attracting media projects. Legislators have specifically directed that the new resources prioritize projects located in southeastern North Carolina.

The grant program provides tax rebates on qualifying expenses, with caps set at $20 million for films and $25 million for TV series. The additional $31 million is restricted specifically to the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

The players

North Carolina General Assembly

The legislative body of North Carolina responsible for state lawmaking and budget authorizations.

North Carolina Department of Commerce

The state agency tasked with managing economic development and the film and entertainment grant program.

Josh Stein

The Governor of North Carolina who has engaged with the state's production facilities.

The details

Managed by the Department of Commerce, the grant program will reopen to new applications following the legislative authorization. The General Assembly has required the department to submit a formal prioritization plan for southeastern productions by October 20, 2026.

September 15, 2026: Governor Stein and Secretary Lilley visited Cinespace Studios.
October 1, 2026: The state announced the $31 million funding authorization.
October 20, 2026: The Department of Commerce faces a deadline to report its prioritization plan.
End of 2026: The additional $31 million becomes available for program usage.

Culture Shift

This move signals a broader effort to concentrate regional economic development by using state incentives to anchor production hubs. It marks a shift toward localized industry investment compared to previous broader-reach policies.

Production companies and local businesses in southeastern North Carolina can expect the grant program to resume accepting applications, potentially increasing local filming activity. Residents and contractors in the area may see a renewed pipeline of incoming media projects.

The takeaway

The state is prioritizing local media hubs to maximize the regional economic impact of its tax rebate program. Filmmakers looking to utilize these funds should monitor the Department of Commerce portal for updated application requirements.